Hugh’s post reminded me of this Triang model trains which is on youtube.
(Hugh’s post is here if you want to catch up.)
Well, every since then, I’ve been getting all kinds of train nostalgia sent in. And if have to say, I’ve really enjoyed it.
I do my best to keep the blog relevant, but in the same light, I usually find if I enjoyed watching something, it usually goes down well if I post it.
So here you, hope this makes you smile as much as me:
I’m sure there are lots of you out there smiling fondly over the memories of Triang model trains.
I’ve lost count of the posts that reminisce over the very first model train – usually a Triang that at first was a mysterious box under the Christmas tree.
Then it’s smiles all round as it trustily gives a few years sold service.
But then life happens. You grow up. Your Triang train is forgotten about after those fleeting years of enjoyment with the Old Man.
Then, decades later, something magical happens. The dusty old box is found, and to everybody’s surprise it still runs – that’s because in the good old days, they knew how to build stuff.
At this point, there is one thing that can happen.
The Triang finds itself underneath the Christmas tree again, but this time looping round, entertaining the grandkids.
What a hobby, eh?
That’s all for today folks, because it’s been on of those days already.
Please do keep ’em coming because it really is very thin on the ground this end.
And if today is the day you stop dreaming and start doing, the Beginner’s Guide is here.
Best
Al
PS Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Brilliant!
lionel and american flyer state side of the big pond,lol
My cousin had all the Lionel toys they made back then. I was so jealous. My first Hornby was a clockwork model. I still have it. Rob McCrain – Farland Howe.
Well Al
that certainly brought back a few memories, my first Hornby set was a second hand one that my dad bought me, we did not have much money way back in the late 1950’s but I still managed to have a layout on a table in my bedroom with airfix models of stations etc, all kindly donated by aunts and uncles, I had to sell it all unfortunately but it was not until I married in 1968, that I started again for my son? who now has it all in boxes in his loft.
I then after a period of time got into garden railway, and had a modest LGB and Bachman layout in the garden, but as old age started to creep up on me with back problems, due to a misspent youth racing motorcycles, and scuba diving, I had to go to something in between, and after watching a video from Erics trains, I thought Lionel legacy was the only route for me, although expensive, what with shipping and customs duty from the States to the UK, I must be their biggest UK fan, I have spent the equivalent of a round the world cruise, (Not really but my wife said it feels like it) so from your two videos, now gone from Hornby to Lionel. albeit on my shelf layout.
Thanks for the posts by the way, great help with some of the articles although its the wrong scale, the methods are the same.
Regards
Ernie
Essex UK
Put a big smile on my face anyway!
When I was growing up it was Tri-ang and Hornby with Wrenn for the rich kids. Would give my eye teeth (if I had any!) for that old stuff now.
We still have the photos of our Lionel and American Flyer layouts. Loved the commercials. Thanks for sharing, Al.
Nice idea we grown in size so is my trains sets get bigger in size. It’s a lot of fun. I enjoy every change I have with it. Build new one 6×10 in new home ,in basement.
I hope to get running soon. Help I finished exterior wall that that area is cold. I need at least 2 months and I will be finished.
As a kid in the 50’s in Toronto and Fort William Ontario Canada I used to collect Hornby. Triang was a seperate company back then. I was born in the UK and now live in Arizona US… I also remember visiting a friend in Killamarsh, Derbyshire. My grand parents lived there I used to visit a family friend that was a retired school master. He bought me a metal 00 Hornby sleeper. The local outlet for Hornby was the Post office of all places.
Nice. Neat stuff from Lionel. I truly remember many of those “mechanical “ operating cars and buildings. But who thinks about 8 mm filming. Ah, 20 20 hindsight.
Thanks for sharing.
Jim AZ
I remember going to the local Sears & Roebuck store back in the 50″s around Christmas. I knew there would be Lionel Trains there. Usually 1 or two set up and running.. I got my first Lionel train set In 1951, I steam engine with 4 cars.
I was just 6at the time so dad set it the first time around the Christmas tree. I think he had as much fun as I did running it. I am not sure what happened to that set. dad was in the USAF so we moved about some. I use to get the Lionel Christmas book and look at it all year long,dreaming about the trains it contained.
I did get diesel set when I was about 13. I had it for 50 years until I sold it to a fried who was a Lionel train collector. I am now 70 something and I remember those yesteryears with great fondness.
Wonderful memories. The under £5 set was my introduction to model railways I still have the engine and rolling stock, all still serviceable.
Thank you for sharing these old ad’s it has made my day.
Colin Surrey
Thanks Dave. In 1939 my dad brought me my first electric train American Flyer). I was three months old so you know who it was for. But I kept that train until I wore it out 13 years later.. I still played around with Tyco and Bachmann trains until I finally gave it up. I really enjoy your emails and videos of others. Thank you for them.
The 50’s were an interesting time for Lionel–the world had ended a major war and entered the space age. American servicemen had come home, married, and were raising a family amidst a rising fear of nuclear world war. As the influence of planes, rockets, and things that blew up increased, the company attempted to combine the new interests with its heritage product in an attempt to maintain and increase its market share.
I remember Lionel, when it was Lionel, not the stuff on today’s market….
Loved the commercial!
It bring’s old time memory’s back, thank you.
I once asked my father for a train set. He said no. Decades later he told me why: too expensive. I went all that time wondering what I’d done wrong. Seeing those videos – didn’t make me laugh… Now that I have my Bachmann kit above my head on my jigsaw puzzle table (held up by cords), I don’t have the time to even get started. Retired, 74 years old, and I’m building a third woodshed, then will cut down more trees to fill it and woodshed #2 for firewood. It just doesn’t rain enough here to have time away from “workin'”. Being single, I have to do everything that needs to be done. Are all you guys married with wives who cook, clean, do laundry, shop…?
Love this step back in time , are there any more ?
SWEET !!!
I enjoyed the video early days of Lionel Trains …every boys dream ..Dangerous dave